GIFT   OF 


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Ofottflirt 


tUram  Augustus  ^itttjam 


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Conflict 


A  PROPHETIC  VISION 


iam  J\.u$ustu«  Penjam 


PUBLISHED  BY 


,  Cal. 


Barbara,  CaL 


WITH    GRATEFUL  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
OF    MANY    HELPFUL    SUGGESTIONS 


COPYRIGHT  -    1915    •   W.   A.    BENJAMIN 


Canto  1.     3%  -ferg*  of  0£ifr  Charon 

'Twas  at  the  twilight  hour.    I  had  retired 
Unto  my  chamber,  there  to  rest,  to  sleep 
Mayhap,  but  not  to  dream, — or  was 't  a  dream  f 
Nay,  hardly  such,  for  in  my  mortal  state 
I  surely  passed  that  rough  and  rugged  way 
Unguided,  still  by  spirit  seeming  driven, 
Until,  with  bleeding  feet  and  aching  limbs, 
I  came  upon  a  high  and  rocky  ledge 
That  overhung  a  high,  still-moving  stream, 
With  shadow-mist  o'erspread. 

There  to  the  north  where  seemed  the  end  of  some 
Dark  valley,  two  great  mountains  formed  a  wall 
That  marked  the  bound 'ry  of  that  awesome  place. 
Long  flaming  rays  of  purple-crimson  shone 
In  fan-like  streams  of  deeply  shaded  light 
From  up  behind  those  gloomy  mountain  peaks, 
And  flung  their  penciled  lines  of  sombre  fire 
Far  o'er  the  sluggish  tide. 

The  quiet  waters  laved  a  shadowy  shore, 

Low  murmuring  in  mournful  monotone  ; 

And  in  the  murkiness  of  that  dense  shade, 

Electric  tension  gripped  my  inmost  soul 

As  in  a  vise  of  steel.    Close  riveted 

It  held  me  fast  upon  that  eminence 

Of  barren  rock — a  prisoner  in  chains. 

A  sense  of  silent  but  appalling  grief 

Closed    'round  my  heart,    like    some    great    sinne 

prayer, 

That  sends  its  strong  appeal  into  the  void 
Unto  an  unknown  God. 


How  had  I  found  my  way  unto  that  strange, 

Lone  vale  of  brooding  silences,  and   why? 

And  wrhither  flowed  that  3yi<Je-SDread,  quiet  stream, 


So/.diinly  outlined;  'neath  the  flickering  light, 
Which  seemed  to  fail  from  nowhere, — everywhere,- 
And  shrouding  all  as  in  a  purple  flame, 
Grave  rise  to  inward  fear,  portending  some 
Great,  frightful  cataclysm. 

And  then,  as  for  a  space  the  flame  rolled  on, 

And  vision  cleared  for  me  apace,  I  saw, 

Upon  the  farther  shore,  dim  figures  move 

Toward  the  river's  edge,  where  they  long  stood, 

And  seemed  to  gaze  in  some  weird,  wistful  sense, 

Far  out  across  the  waters  calm  and  wide; 

And  watching  thus,  I  realized  that  this 

"Was  Lethe — River  of  Forgetf ulness ; 

That  those  upon  the  other  shore  were  shades 

Of  warriors  great,  of  years  now  dead  and  gone, 

Who,  in  their  time,  had  overturned  the  world 

For  lust  of  conquering. 

And  as  I,  too,  looked  o'er  the  waters,  lo, 

From  out  the  shadows  of  that  dismal  vale, 

A  cumbrous  barge,  high-laden,  swept  the  stream, 

Propelled  by  long  and  gleaming  double  blades 

Of  hoary  old  Charon. 

Somewhat  surprised  by  this  strange  spectacle, 
Thus  quickly  coming  into  view,  I  cried: 
"Old  Ferryman!"  Like  mystic  rippling  rills 
Of  ghoulish,  mocking  laughter,  my  voice  sped 
In  challenge  o'er  the  waves.     "Old  Ferryman !" 
He  stayed  his  hand  and  with  arrested  oar, 
He  turned  and  gazed  at  me  with  sad,  white  face. 
"Old  Ferryman,  and  whither  goest  thou, 
And  what  may  be  thy  cargo  ? "  I  enquired. 
A  moment  on  the  boat's  broad  prow  he  stood, 
Upright  and  calm,  like  silent  sculptured  bronze, 
Almost  heroic  in  th'  uncertain  light, 
And  then  he  answered  thus: 


"These  be  the  souls  of  those  who  bravely  died, 
"They  knew  not  why.    Not  for  their  king,  nor  for 
"Their  country's  sake;  not  for  a  principle 
"Apparent,  but  like  sheep  to  slaughter  led." 
He  paused  a  moment  sadly,  then  resumed: 
'  'T  has  been  a  task  for  Hercules  of  late, 
"They  come  in  myriad  throngs,  all  bleeding,  torn 


"By  gaping  wounds;  'twould  make  the  angels  weep 
1 '  Could  they  look  down  upon  it  all,  and  hear 
"Their  deep,  heart-shatt 'ring  moans." 

He  sighed  and  muttered  incoherently 
Unto  himself;  then,  in  a  clearer  tone: 
"By  order  of  th'  Almighty  One  I  take 
' '  These  hero-souls  unto  a  fairer  land 
"Than  e'er  they've  known  before." 

Again  he  paused  and  keenly  gazed  at  me. 
"  Would 'st  know  the  secret  of  their  tragic  end? 
"If  so,  I'll  give  thee  Damos  as  thy  guide, 
"To  show  these  things  to  thee,  but  on  this  one 
"Condition:    What  thine  eyes  do  there  behold, 
' '  Thine  ears  do  hear ;  unto  thy  soul  is  there 
"Eevealed;  these  thou  shalt  speak  aloud  unto 
"The  nations  of  the  earth." 


His  query  grave  so  deep  the  silence  marked 
I  needs  must  answer  him,  and  so  I  said: 
"Old  Ferryman,  fain  would  I  know  these  things 
"Of  great  import,  and  willingly  will  I 
"As  thou  hast  asked  of  me." 


Whereon,  from  out  the  shadows  dim,  came  he 
Whom  Charon  had  called  Damos.     He  spake  not, 
But  with  a  silent  gesture  led  the  way. 
Up  from  the  rocky,  shelf-like  ledge  we  passed, 
'Till,  skirting  canyon's  wall,  we  came  once  more 
Upon  the  rugged  path  which  led  us  hence, 
Unto  the  outer  world. 


My  guide  and  I  now  paused  to  look  again 
Upon  that  awesome  river  scene  below. 
Lethe  was  but  a  glist'ning  wraith  of  mist, 
And  th'  barge  of  old  Charon  had  disappeared 
Into  the  shadows  of  that  distant  shore 
Beyond  the  Acheron. 


of 


Ere  e'en  the  morning  shafts  of  light  had  touched 
That  highest  peak,  t'ward  which,  with  arduous  toil, 
Damos  and  I  had  climbed  throughout  the  night, 
We  reached  the  crest,  and,  weary,  rested  there  ; 
Strange  creatures  of  the  night  were  all  about 
And  oft  disturbed  the  deep  surrounding  gloom, 
But  unto  these  we  gave  no  heed,  for,  as 
The  early  dawn  began  to  break,  we  'roused, 
And  looked  abroad  o'er    mountains,  chain  on  chain, 
E'en  o'er  th'  expansive  seas  that  swept  the  shores 
Of  many  alien  lands. 

Quaint  villages  wyere  clustered  in  the  vales, 

Close  sheltered  by  the  mountains,  cypress  clad, 

That  breathed  their  fragrant  balm  unto  the  world; 

Beyond  the  green  rose  snowy  peaks  of  white, 

Befrosted  guardians  of  the  passing  years. 

The  dome  above,  where  countless  billions  of 

Bright,  glitt'ring  worlds,  greater  by  far  than  ours, 

Gleamed  through  the  indigo  of  that  vast  space, 

Gave  unto  us  no  revelation  new 

Of  ages  past  and  gone;  but  there,  below, 

In  th'  shad'wy  vale,  our  'customed  vision  saw, 

In  dream-like  cavalcade,  an  endless  host, 

"War-clad,  in  stately  movement  forging  on, 

On  —  on  —  forever  on. 

"Dost  know  these  phantom  shapes  who  ride  below?" 

My  guide  enquired:  "Methinks  I  know,"  said  I, 

"Strangely  familiar  do  their  faces  seem." 

Then  Damos,  low,  in  musing  monotone 

Replied:  "So  passeth  those  who  in  their  time 

"The  world  called   great.     See!      Yonder    ride    the 

shades 

'  *  Of  mighty  Caesar  and  of  Hannibal  ; 
"There,  too,  Lysander  and  Red  Alaric, 
"There  Khosru  Third  and  the  great  Attila, 
'Theoph'lus,  Barbarossa,  Bohemond, 
'Peter  the  Great,  Robespierre,  Napoleon, 
'Von  Moltke  and  Bismarck; 
'And  also  those  from  out  thine  own  fair  land* 
'Amongst  these  riders  thou  canst  recognize. 
'Enthralled  with  life  and  great  ambition  all, 

*  America. 


"These  warriors  of  a  glorious,  misty  past 
"Played  many  parts, — lived  their  allotted  time, 
"Then — passed  to  Shadowland." 

"The  gilded  pomp  and  splendor  of  their  times 

"Lies  buried  in  the  haze  of  ages  past; 

"The  festive  banners  that  so  bravely  streamed, 

"Today  hang  shreds  and  old,  unsightly  rags; 

"Gone,  gone  indeed  the  glory  of  their  names; 

1  *  Of  Caesar,  Hannibal,  Napoleon ; 

"The  fierce-fought  Trojan  and  the  Punic  wars, — 

* '  Crusades  and  Conquests,  all  of  blood-bought  power, 

"Are  passed  like  painted  scenes  upon  a  stage, 

"Into  oblivion.'' 


"Tn  cruel  warfare  they  did  barter  life 
"For  booty  and  for  self-aggrandizement: 
"For  this — in  years  to  come,  their  very  names 
"Effaced  will  be  from  off  the  page  of  fame, 
"Save  here  and  there  in  children's  hist'ry  books 
"They  may  in  some  small  measure  mark  the  flight 
"Of  years."     "But  they  who  fought  for  principle,- 
"Who  suffered  death  for  some  great,  noble  cause, 
"Some  mighty  purpose  to  uplift  the  race, 
"Their  names  shall  ever  live." 


And  gazing  still  into  the  vale  below, 

"We  saw  the  last  of  that  vast  pageant  fade 

Away,  as  tho'  absorbed  within  the  mists 

Of  passing  night,  for  dawn  e'en  then  began 

To  throw  its  light  around  that  peak  on  which 

Damos  and  I  reclined. 


A  silence  seemed  to  fall  o'er  all  the  earth; 

So  strong  a  silence  that  it  burdened  me, 

And  happening  to  look  that  moment  on 

The  face  of  Damos  I  did  see  the  light 

Of  Revelation, — the  unveiling  there 

Of  some  portentious  secret,  God-revealed. 

In  almost  breathless  tensity  I  sat, 

The  very  beating  of  my  heart  seemed  stilled, 

As  slowly,  very  slowly  crept  the  light 

Of  dawn  adown  the  mountain  sides,  into 

The  vallevs  far  below. 


Then  spake  he,— Damos,  and  his  voice,  tho'  clear, 
Seemed  far  away:     "Long  time  Almighty  Jove 
"Hath  waited  patiently,  year  after  year, — 
"Watched  century  on  century  roll  by, 
"Aweighted  down  with  their  vast  burdens  of 
"Accumulated  sin,  of  shame  and  wrong; 
"But  now" — and  Damos  voice  rang  out  o'er  hill 
And  vale  like  some  great  clarion  call  to  arms: 
"Now  He  hath  tired  of  waiting  and  doth  put 
"In  action  a  stupendous  plan;  His  last 
"Great  World-Redemption  Plan." 


3-     3%  ^orrote  of  •[Bsatlj 

Then  Damos  turned.    ''Behold  this  scene,"  said  he; 

And  from  that  dizzy,  towering  mountain  height, 

Which  from  earth's  very  center  seemed  to  rise, 

We  gazed  abroad  o'er  mountain,  sea  and  shore 

Of  many  lands,  enwrapped  in  morning  light. 

Far  to  the  north  and  west  swept  level  plains, 

Broken  anon  by  intervening  knolls 

Or  hills.    Fair  rivers  coursed  like  sinuous  threads 

Across  rich  meads,  while  'long  the  rugged  line 

Of  coast  great  rocky  caves,  giant  palisades, 

Rich  coral  isles  and  grottoes  added  to 

The  beauty  of  that  European  world. 

Close  at  our  feet  lay  France  and  Italy, 

And  to  the  north  fair  Belgium  and  ''The  Isles;" 

Beyond  the  land  of  Huns  and  Turks  and  Poles 

The  mighty  German  Empire,  Russia  and 

The  great  Siberian  plains. 

All  these  were  lands  of  industry  and  thrift, 

Which,  by  the  process  and  the  progress  of 

Great  minds  had  almost  reached  the  pinnacle 

Of  power, — the  plane  of  Christian  attribute 

And  Brotherhood.    Almost, — not  quite!   For  there, 

E  'en  as  we  gazed  upon  that  beauteous  scene, 

From  out  the  earth  an  iron  meteor  sped 

With  vibrant,  hissing  scream — and  crash !    Behold, 

Earth's  largest  mountain  fell,  or  so  it  seemed: 

So  great  the  cataclysm  that  around 

The  world  and  into  the  far  reaches  of 

The  universe  the  thunder  of  it  rolled. 

Then  all  known  holocausts  of  war  were  paled 

To  insignificance. 

The  German  Empire  stirred  and  roused;  the  air 
Was  shattered  with  the  throb  of  drums,  the  blare 
Of  bugles, — champing  bits,  the  flaunting  silks, 
The  burnished  helmets'  glare, — the  call  to  arms; 
Earth  trembled  under  tread  of  myriad  feet, 
And  o'er  fair  Belgian  lands,  with  om'nous  roar, 
Raged  the  fierce  Teuton  hordes. 


They  scorched  the  very  ground  o  'er  which  they  passed ; 

They  stumbled  on,  slaying  and  being  slain, 

At  length  to  come  abreast  of  miles  on  miles 

Of  stalwart  Britons  and  intrepid  French. 

With  clash  of  sabre,  whirr  of  shot  and  shell; 

With  air  a-clangor  and  a-seethe  as  hell, 

The  holocaust  swept  on. 

But  through  the  quivering,  quaking  din  of  war, 
The  everlasting  query  came — and  came — 
Insistent  came:  "Why  are  they  fighting  usf" 
"Why  are  we  fighting  them?" 

And  to  the  south  and  east,  o'er  Austrian  lands; 
E'en  past  Carpathians  rugged  mountain  heights, — 
O'er  Russian  borderland  and  on  that  ground 
Made  sacred  by  great  Kosciusko's  blood, 
Ten  thousand  thousand  warriors  madly  ride; 
Ten  thousand  thousand  husbands,  fathers,  sons, 
Our  brothers  all, — to  kill — to  kill — to  kill 
Ten  thousand  thousand  other  sons  of  men, 
And  leave  a  million  women  home  to  weep 
In  blank  despair.    Oh,  God  of  Hosts,  we  ask, 
In  anguished  soul:  "What  for?" 

And  God  of  Pity,  Thy  protection  grant 

To  those  lone  women  isolated  there; 

Those  tender  girls  with  fathers,  brothers,  gone 

To  fields  of  death.     They,  desolate,  are  left 

Unto  those  fiendish  ghouls  in  shapes  of  men; 

Strange  products  of  inhuman  savagery, 

Their  wanton  acts  are  e'en  a  stench  unto 

The  nostrils  of  the  arch-fiend  Lucifer. 

But  they  may  not  escape  their  punishment 

For  such  befouling,  world-appalling  deeds; 

Swift  retribution  doth  overtake  them  all. 

Their  carcasses  are  offal  and  upon 

The  dunghill  of  the  world  are  roughly  thrown, 

"Where  blood-eyed  buzzards  tear  them  limb  from  limb ; 

Their  souls,  so  infin'tessimal,  flit  out 

And  quickly  join  the  other  dastard  few 

Who  violate  all  common  decency. 

There  e'en  in  deepest  hell  shall  be  no  place 

For  such  as  these.    In  execration  thus 

They  pass,  abhorred,  into  th'  Eternal  Night. 

'Tis  well  no  mercy's  shown. 


Again  we  looked  and  everywhere  we  saw, 

As  far  as  eye  could  reach  in  normal  vis'n, 

Long  seams  which  cleft  the  earth,  mile  after  mile. 

The  gray-black  smoke  of  battle  almost  hid 

The  serpent  lines  of  myriad  struggling  foes, 

Who,  in  the  rough-hewn  trenches,  fought  both  night 

And  day  for  mastery. 

Well  pitted  they  in  strength  of  arms  and  men, 
And  endlessly,  week  in,  week  out,  they  fought 
And  fell, — fought,  fought  and  fell  to  rise  no  more. 
The  crash  of  guns,  the  screaming  shells,  the  din 
Of  cannons'  roar;  the  shouts  and  blasphemies 
Of  men. — the  shrieks  of  pain  and  dying  moans, 
All  mingled  with  the  piteous  prayers  of  those, 
Who,  near  death's  portal,  sought  the  passing  way 
Unto  that  plane  where  war  and  death  are  not. 
Great  Spirit,  be  their  guide. 

Across  the  sky  from  ev'ry  compass  point, 

West,  north  to  east, — east,  north  to  south  and  back, 

Dark  shadows  flew  as  fleet-winged  falcons  dart, — 

Mere  specks  in  the  cerulean  space  above; 

And  watched  by  many  eager  eyes,  alert, 

In  ambush  safely  hidd'n  to  bring  them  down, 

The  Zeppelins,  biplanes  and  monoplanes 

Sailed  hither,  yon,  in  straight,  unerring  course, 

And  on  fair  hamlets  far  below,  or  in 

The  city's  crowded  streets  and  squares,  sent  their 

Projectiles  hurtling  down  with  flaming  death 

Upon  the  innocent. 


And  there  upon  the  misty,  dawn-swept  sea, 

Fleet  war-boats  darted  in  and  out  between 

The  myriads  of  battle-ships,  like  bolts 

Of  iron  from  some  giant  cross-bow  flung  ; 

While  here  and  there  great  dreadnaughts  ploughed  the 

deep; 

Their  sides  and  decks  with  polished  armor  gleamed, 
And  bristled  with  the  ever-ready  guns. 


A  sharp  impact,  a  flash  of  blinding  light, 
A  maelstrom  rose  amidst  a  thund'rous  roar; 
Colossal  steel  Leviathan  of  war 


Upreared;  an  instant's  agonizing  wait 
It  trembling  hung,  suspended  in  mid-air, — 
Then  in  the  vortex  of  the  sea,  with  one 
Great  shudd'ring,  final  gasp,  forever  sank 
Beneath  the  surging  waves,  and  with  it  took 
A  thousand  sensient,  strong,  immortal  souls. 
Death  reigned  on  land  and  sea  in  all  that  vast 
Domain ;  Death — Everywhere  ! 

God  of  our  Fathers,  be  with  those  who  in 
Their  day  died  valiantly,  they  knew  not  why; 
And  on  their  breasts,  instead  of  Iron  Cross, 
Or  badge  of  earthly  praise,  affix  Thine  own 
True  8 tar  of  Glory  bright. 


Canto  4. 


Still  watching  from  that  lofty  pinnacle 

The  gripping  scenes  forever  shift  and  change 

On  sea  and  shore,  and  in  the  air  above, 

We  sat,  grief-stricken  souls,  immovable, 

So  great  th'  appalling  horror  of  it  all. 

Then  Damos  spake  and  to  my  soul  revealed 

The  marv'lous  purpose  of  Almighty  God, 

Who,  lab  ''ring  with  His  people  year  by  year 

For  their  eternal  good,  had  weary  grown. 

With  open  mind  and  heart  I  heard  The  Voice; 

So  that,  with  inner  vision  clear,  wherewith 

Before  unseeing  I  had  tried  to  see,  — 

I  did  behold  those  self  -same  faces  which 

But  short  time  since  had  passed  on  cumbrous  barge 

Beyond  the  Acheron. 

As  in  that  time  when  old  Charon  I  saw, 

And  gave  him  promise  that  unto  the  world 

I  would  reveal  all  things  which  came  into 

My  heart  and  mind,  —  so  now  I  tell  unto 

All  men  those  things  I  had  not  heretofore 

An  understanding  of,  but  which  unto 

My  soul  good  Damos  thus  interpreted: 

"In  some  few  conflicts  of  the  ages  past 

"Great  principles  have  been  the  base  on  which 

"Their  deadly  warfare  raged,  —  but  ah,  so  few!" 

"A  thousand  million  precious  souls  have  passed 

"For  conquest's  sake,  for  greed  of  gold  and  power, 

"For  high  position,  for  this  world's  estate, 

"For  all  things  but  the  right,  and  these  —  these  have 

"Been  wholesale  murders,  instigated  by 

"That  Nation's  Head,  who,  had  the  welfare  of 

"His  people  ruled  his  heart,  had  paved  a  way 

"Of  peace  and  love  instead  of  bloody  strife, 

"Which  brought  but  death  and  woe." 

"Beneath  the  social  stratum  of  the  earth 

"O'er  which  the  idle  mighty  of  our  time 

"So  calmly  walk,  unheeding  The  Great  Cry, 

'  *  Gaunt  hands  of  millions  stretch  beseechingly. 

"They  plead  a  part  of  their  inheritance 

'  *  By  right  of  life,  —  by  right  of  weary  toil  ; 

"They  plead  the  peace  of  all  the  world;  they  plead 


"The  brotherhood  of  man  by  right  of  that 

"Most  precious  blood  Christ  gave  on  Calv'ry's  hill, 

"Long  centuries  ago." 


"As  in  th'  Almighty's  plan  of  that  dark  age, 
"When  to  the  earth  He  sent  His  only  Son 
"For  the  redemption  of  a  sin-sick  world, — 
"One  Judas  did  a  necessary  part 
"Enact  in  that  soul-stirring  Passion  play; 
"So  in  this  monstrous  drama  He  doth  choose 
"A  Kaiser,  Czar  and  Kings  of  many  lands ; 
"And  they,  aligned  in  battle's  fierce  array, 
"Do  play  their  parts  today." 


"This  conflict  is  not  waged  for  conquest's  sake, 
"For  greed  or  powder,  nor  for  th'  aggrandizement 
"Of  any  man, — Czar,  Kaiser,  King;  although 
"Within  the  baser  thoughts  of  those  who  hold 
"The  reigns  of  government  today  this  may 
"Be  uppermost.     Nor  are  those  men  of  power 
"The  heroes  of  this  mighty  drama  of 
"The  world.    The  heroes  are  those  unknown  brave 
"Who  in  the  fields  are  serving;  giving  life 
"For  their  dear  Homeland;  facing  foe  with  staunch 
"Endeavor;  perishing  on  battle  fields, 
"Not  knowing  wThy,  but  under  stern  command 
"Of  duty  going  forth  to  fight  and  die, 
"With  all  the  calm  and  knightly  courage  of 
"The  warriors  of  old.' 


"Oh  Sons  of  Battle  in  this  mighty  cause, 

"And  faithful  women  left  behind  to  mourn 

"In  silence  loss  of  husband,  brother,  son, 

"Or  friend,  be  not  cast  down,  but  lift  your  heads, 

"And  let  the  light  of  glory  won  beam  in 

"Your  eyes;  for,  Spirits  of  the  Brave,  and  those 

"You  left  at  home,  hear  this  most  wondrous  thing: 


"It  is  God's  last  resort  to  bring  great  peace, 
"An    everlasting  peace  to  all  the  world, — 
"And  triumph,  like  a  golden  crown,  shall  rest 
"Upon  the  brows  of  those,  who,  in  this  cause 
"Have  brought  the  Victory." 


Canto  5~ 


The  glitt'ring  stars  again  grew  pale,  as  I, 
Still  seeming  on  the  mountain's  height,  bestirred 
Myself  and  found  that  in  the  night  Damos 
Had  gone.     The  morning  light  swept  valley,  sea 
And  shore  as  I  looked  forth  once  more  o'er  all 
That  European  world. 


The  carnage  of  The  Fearful  Day  had  passed; 
A  Night  of  Rest  had  followed  after  strife. 


Wide  fields  of  grain  waved  in  the  gentle  breeze; 

On  ev'ry  side  the  busy  mill-wheels  clanked 

And  whirred  with  most  tremendous  energy ; 

A  myriad  ships  sailed  o'er  the  boundless  deep 

With  flags  of  ev'ry  nation  flying  free, 

While  airships,  unmolested,  flew  across 

The  turquoise  dome  of  space  like  great  white  doves. 

A-teem  writh  life  earth  had  responded  to 

The  call  of  man  with  Life,  with  plenty  and 

With  happiness. — and  man,  from  out  the  shade 

Of  deepest  night,  beholds  the  Radiant  Dawn; 

The  Dawn  of  Hope  and  Love. 


For  on  the  earth  a  new  Democracy 

Doth  rise,  and  kings  shall  rule  no  more,  nor  shall 

The  head  of  any  nation  seek  to  make 

A  right  by  might  of  conquest,  but  through  love 

And  by  the  bonds  of  Christian  Brotherhood 

The  world  shall  move  and  ever  be  at  peace. 

The  nations'  greed  for  gold,  which,  in  time  past 

Hath  sacrificed  all  human  sympathy 

To  fill  cold,  clutching,  avaricious  maws, 

Will  pass  away,  and  all  the  hell-conceived 

Inventions  for  the  slaughter  of  mankind 

Shall  disappear  for  aye. 


And  womankind  shall  come  into  her  own; 
Shall  have  a  part  in  law  and  government, — 
And  broader,  clearer  justice  shall  prevail. 
These  Mothers  of  the  Race  shall  step  into 
The  Breach — the  Empty  Places  left  by  those 


^yho,  in  this  war-crime  havoc,  have  passed  on 
To  other  scenes.    These  women  who,  tho'  all 
The  world  of  men  be  conquered,  still  remain 
Steadfast,  firm  Advocates  of  Peace  and  Love, 
As  they  have  ever  been. 


The  soldier  shall  become  the  husbandman, — 
Shall  own  the  land,  and  till  the  fruitful  soil. 
Our  warships  will  great  merchantmen  become, 
To  carry  the  substantial  benefits 
Of  all  the  world 's  great  industries  unto 
The  nations  far  and  wide;  so  that  all  men 
May  plenty  have  and  ne'er  again  in  all 
The  hist'ry  of  the  race  shall  hungered  be, 
But  may  partake  of  all  the  fruits  of  earth, 
In  equity  bestowed. 

The  Spirit  of  a  Great  Love,  broad,  serene, 
Shall  come  to  all,  the  true  Millennial  Dawn; 
'Tis  thus  the  Christ  himself  shall  come  again. 
God's  Peace  shall  reign  supreme! 


Far  off  I  see  the  radiant  hills  of  God, 
Enhaloed  by  a  light  of  silver-blue; 
The  fairest  flowers  of  all  the  world  grow  there ; 
And  on  the  slopes  the  gentle  shepherd  lads 
Attend  their  flocks.     Along  the  peaceful  vale 
A  crystal  stream  winds  in  and  out ; — it  is 
The  Stream  of  Life  and  on  its  shores  the  fruits 
Of  all  the  nations  grow. 

From  out  the  midst  of  this  most  beauteous  scene, 
On  th'  Rock  of  Ages,  stands  a  Marble  Shaft, 
Up-towering  in  the  blue  where  all  the  world 
May  see.    Graven  on  ev'ry  side,  North,  East, 
And  South  and  West,  these  soul-inspiring  words : 
To  all  those  martyred  hosts  who  fell,  that, 
In  the  wisdom  of  Almighty  God,  the  world 
Have  Everlasting  Peace. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

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MAR  131918 
«K>S.  801920 


50m-7,'16 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


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